Proposed Reductions from the School Board Budget Meeting held this morning at the Central Office:

These are the proposed areas for reductions presented by school administration
to the school board:

Salaries are frozen, no step nor base nor cost of living.
Increase only for stipends on degree completion and longevity ( fewer than 10 employees).

Estimated decrease in salary and benefits: – $809, 925.
Teacher reduction due to lower enrollment (5 positions)
Reduction of Administrative staff (2 positions)
Required program additions VIB (2 positions special education)
Reduction in substitute and supplemental pay (will not lessen the pay scale but the use of subs)
Reduction in other benefit categories (Retirement Service Plan- people cycling out)
Reduction is salaries verses proposed and actual in FY09.

Estimated Expenditures-Increases and additions: $404, 436
Health Insurance Premium (hope it is only 10% increase.)
Supplements removed from salary line.

Recommended Expenditure Reductions: -$ 491,076.
Summer school (secondary level only for seniors in need of a course to graduate) GED, ISAEP.
Transportation outlay (reduce bus purchases)
Fuel (prices are trending down)
Private carriers
Debt Service
Travel and conferences

Recommended Facilities and Infrastructure deferments: – $ 659,871.
Facilities (CIP) defer into two years the HVAC and roof improvements scheduled for Breckinridge Elementary
Technology infrastructure (no new upgrades or improvements)

Total reductions: $1,556,437.

Attic Productions, the community theater group in Botetourt, is currently rehearsing the show “Bubbles of Emotion,” which runs Feb. 12-14 and 19-21 at the D. Geraldine Lawson Performing Arts Center just south of Fincastle.

We have a photo gallery from the show — here, we see Leslie Harwood and Micah Crizer.

For ticket info, see the Attic website.

For more on the show, Attic sends this release: Read more »

Here are a few photos from Breckinridge Elementary’s Steel Drum day on Friday, Jan. 23.

Mr. Richard Rudolph of Quest Academy in Roanoke brought almost 75 drums in and spent the day working with each grade level on playing them.

Submitted by: Tracey Patterson

The result wasn’t what Lord Botetourt fans wanted, but we still have a photo gallery of some nice photos from Wednesday night’s Lord Botetourt – Northside boys basketball game.

Here, Hunter Foley drives for the basket.

Photos by Stephanie Klein-Davis, The Roanoke Times

Do you have photos from the game? Or any game, for that matter, involving teams or players from Botetourt County? If so, you can share at news@botetourtview.com

One hundred twenty students recently earned a very special party due to their exceptional efforts with reading. These students read books and completed Accelerated Reader quizzes throughout the third six weeks. They were each given an individualized reading goal to meet. This student tailored goal includes a minimum comprehension level of eighty-five percent. Meeting the goal requires great dedication, motivation, and self-discipline.

Students enjoyed wearing their Accelerated Reader hats that are provided by Ashley Plantation Golf course, Earth Movers, Sunset Grill and Catering, Santillane Inc., and Bugman Exterminating. Everyone gathered in the school cafeteria for refreshments and games. Some students enjoyed playing video games while others played board games. A great time was had by all. New goals have been established for the new six weeks grading period.

Students are busy reading and are excited about the next big Accelerated Reader event. While teachers and parents are cheering them on thorough daily conferencing and feedback. Fourth six weeks students who meet their reading goal will be invited to a slumber movie.

Read more »

Management and employees along with Blue Ridge supervisor Billy Martin.

With pomp and circumstance and an environmental friendly bag with coupons and a free loaf of bread greeted customers at the Blue Ridge Food Lion this morning for the Grand Re-opening. For the next four weeks they’ll be having specials, too so keep an eye out for a bargain and a giveaway or two.

Pictured here are managers and employees at the store: Denny Deweese, Kevin Lyle, Terri Johnston, Joe Wilson, Barbar Blair, Kevin Slusher, Rob Nelson, Rob Ward and Billy Martin.

A happy family, Mary Beth Filer with her husband and sons, is a successful entrepreneur who has sold on E Bay and Web retailed Coldwater Creek clothing

Mary Beth Filer of the Cloverdale area has been a successful E Bay salesman and a web retailer. She has made enough money on E Bay to pay cash for a demo Lincoln Continental and upgrade to a home in Steeplechase.

She and her husband Dave and two of their three sons, Steven and Eric, (DJ the oldest son is in college,) moved up Read Mountain from a smaller home in Fincastle several years ago. With plenty of hard work, she has been able to find products to market on the Internet and to afford a better life style.

At first she wanted to stay home with her children and knew she needed an income. Thus began her entrepreneurial foray into E Bay. “I wanted to make enough extra to afford a housekeeper one day per week.” Once she met that goal, others followed.

“I had a full time housekeeper, a BAC membership and an assistant, Mary Falls, who modeled and helped me with the home business.” Ginny Karkenny became a model for her as well.

She soon began to explore a popular woman’s clothing line sold as Coldwater Creek by catalog and the Internet. The upscale designs could be purchased online with the skillful use of coupons and free shipping for many dollars off and soon she resold them on E Bay.

From there she contacted the manufacturers and designers and purchased closeout lots. She would purchase pallets of pieces that were called over runs. “I had to sort them and size them.” It took up much of her 1500 square foot basement to house her inventory. She started her own website to sell the clothing.

“I want people to know you can realize the American Dream.” One of the best compliments her husband ever paid her was, “You make us live like millionaires using your skills.” Unfortunately, Filer has had health issues and has sold all of her Coldwater Creek Inventory lots to Early Bird Variety  in Cloverdale owned by Michael Karkenny. She still sells on E Bay but on a much smaller scale and also sells toys and other products.

“The store is loaded,” said Filer. Early Bird Variety is open Monday through Saturday. The shop is located on Route 11 south of the Greenway Market on Lee Highway. Call 992-6150 for the hours, she said.

A donation was made to Read Mountain Middle School in the amount of $200.00 from the County Wide League.
“This money is to be used to help provide for “students in need” – for example, purchasing of materials, paying for field trips, etc.” said Mike Tetrault, principal at RMMS.

From the Picture: Front- Emma Clements, Elliot Smith, Abby Tincher, Emilee Duffy, Amy Coleman; Back- Trent Smith, Lauren Clements, Dustin Moore.

From band director Will Divers:

On Sunday, Jan. 25, students from Central Academy Middle School and James River High School performed in Burress Auditorium on the campus of Virginia Tech. The concert was the conclusion of the 12th Annual Virginia Tech Honor Band, a three-day event where 463 middle and high school band students from 186 schools in eight different states participated in auditions, rehearsals, and clinics with Virginia Tech music faculty. Representatives from Central Academy Middle School were Emma Clements, Amy Coleman, Emilee Duffy, Trent Smith, and Abby Tincher. Representatives from James River were Lauren Clements, Dustin Moore and Elliot Smith.

This deer has an injured front leg and needs some TLC and a Wildlife Rescue.

Pete McKnight in Blue Ridge just took a picture of a deer that’s been hanging around the house for the past few days. She’s got an injured leg and walks on only three. He said, “There’s no visible sign of injury….she just holds it up off the ground so’s not to put pressure on it.” Anyone know how to help her? “It doesn’t seem to restrict her movements or eating, but she does have to lie down and rest often because, I guess, the stress on her ‘good’ front leg.”